Garhwal Rifles

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The Garhwal Rifles are an infantry regiment of the Indian Army. It was originally raised in 1887 as the 39th (Garhwal) Regiment of the Bengal Army. It then became part of the British Indian Army as the 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles, and after the Independence of India, it was incorporated into the Indian Army and is one of its most decorated regiments. It served during the frontier campaigns of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as well in both World Wars and the wars fought after independence. It is mainly made up of Garhwali people from seven districts of Uttarakhand's Garhwal division: Uttarkashi, Chamoli, Rudraprayag, Tehri Garhwal, Dehradun, Pauri Garhwal and Haridwar. Today it has well over 26,000 soldiers, organized into twenty one regular battalions (2nd to 22nd), two battalions of the Territorial Army (121 Inf Bn TA and 127 Inf Bn TA (Eco)) and three Rashtriya Rifles Battalions (14 RR, 36 RR, 48 RR). The 1st Battalion has since been converted to mechanized infantry and forms part of the Mechanised Infantry Regiment as its 6th battalion. The regiment has a specialized scout battalion of Garhwal Scouts also known as "The Snow Leopards", it is an elite infantry battalion specializing in long range reconnaissance and extreme high-altitude warfare. Garhwal Scouts are stationed permanently at Joshimath. Garhwal Scouts is the main battalion of the Ibex brigade (9th Independent Mountain Brigade). The battalion is distinguished from other battalions with scouts patches on sholders and scout badge on chest. The regimental insignia incorporates a Maltese cross and is based on the defunct Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) as they are a designated rifle regiment. Unlike regular rifle regiments, they are one of ten such units marching in the regular paces used in the Indian Army's ceremonies.